Sitting in an office in downtown Tokyo, I’m given a steer on the future of high-tech gadgets.

I lean forward slightly and all of a sudden I zoom off, whizzing past a table full of people as I make a beeline for the coffee machine.

I’m on board what is best described as a desk-height stool.

Without getting up, I stir my drink and then, leaning in the direction of travel, turn and scoot back to the desk – at 5mph.

This is my exclusive try-out on the Honda Uni-Cub, a personal mobility device – or motorised stool – that responds to a simple shift in bodyweight.

For those who can’t be bothered to walk to have a conversation with a colleague, it’s an absolute godsend.

The Uni-Cub was one of a series of revolutionary prototypes I sampled during a visit to Japan’s capital.

The country’s engineers remain world leaders in computers and are plotting technologies that will change our daily lives in the years ahead.

Household names such as Honda, Fujitsu, Toyota and Hitachi all still have their main research and development laboratories in a nation that has led the way in high-tech advancements for the past 60 years.

Although the Uni-Cub is still not for sale, developer Shinichiro Kobashi says it is likely to herald a major breakthrough in indoor transport.

I, however, could not help but feel a little lazy as I propelled myself around Honda HQ while still sitting down.

Whizz: Shinichiro Kobashi (Photo: Daily Mirror)

But Mr Kobashi explains: “This is not just for people who can’t be bothered to walk. It is the same speed as walking fast.

"It enables you to carry on tasks such as writing or using an iPad while moving around.

“This is also aimed at people who might get easily exhausted walking around places like a shopping centre, an airport or a museum.”

It takes me a while to get used to riding the Uni-Cub, which is more about balancing than exerting energy.

Walking on the streets outside afterwards comes as something of a shock to the system.

With that in mind, Honda is also developing the Stride Management Assist, a device that makes walking less arduous for people with weakened leg muscles.

Attached around the waist and thighs, it helps by giving a robotic boost to the upper legs, which allows the wearer to walk faster for longer.

At Hitachi, which takes its name from the hometown of its founders north of Tokyo, scientists have concentrated their efforts on building a robot that can safely run over obstacles on a floor.

The cute red and white EMIEW2 is based on a mechanism that enables it to fold its “legs” when gliding around a room.

Stride management assistant: Device helps infirm to walk

This allows it to absorb the impact when it runs over objects, such as cables, yet still remain on its feet.

The robot can also accurately recognise different human voices in an office with background noise coming from all ­directions.

EMIEW2 is designed to deliver drinks and documents to colleagues in an open-plan office.

Across town at Fujitsu’s world HQ, I tested more intriguing innovations.

Most impressive is a computer system which, like Samsung’s new Galaxy S4 smartphone, allows users to control a screen using only the movement of their eyes.

In front of me on the PC screen is a map of the world. I navigate from Britain east to Japan simply by letting my gaze glide from left to right.

This is seriously sci-fi with obvious advantages for people with disabilities that prevent them typing on a keyboard or moving a mouse.

Gadgets: Waterproof mobile and EMIEW2 robot

Fujitsu spokesman Rishad Marquardt explains: “The eye-tracking system works on the basis of there always being a reflection on the cornea of your eye in a lit room.

"This detects which way you are looking. Just by moving your eyes, you can move the cursor across the screen. It makes the mouse redundant.”

I am also shown a new Fujitsu phone that can slow down speech to understand fast-talkers and a mobile that survived being immersed in water for ages.

Researchers at Tokyo’s Keio University have also created a “see-through” Toyota Prius, which makes the back of the car appear completely transparent.

An optical camouflage system makes the backseat disappear from sight, giving the driver a full-view of what’s behind their car when parking.

It does this by taking video footage of the space behind the vehicle, then projecting it on to the back seats, giving the illusion of transparency.

Basically you can see what’s behind you.

One of the developers of the invisibility technology, Masahiko Inami, says: “The driver will feel like he’s driving a glass car.